The  Curry  Family in Kansas
 

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Curry Family                                                                                              Curry photos

Currys and Berrys in Prairie Dog, KS                                            References

Martin and Bridget Curry                                                                Potpourri

Curry Children:                   Anne Curry       John Joseph Curry          William Curry

Margaret Curry                        Bridget Curry                                                 Rose Curry

Thomas John Curry        Annie Cecelia Hart             Mary Curry              Patrick Curry

Children of John Joseph Curry and Honoria Foye

Children of Thomas John  Curry and Annie Cecelia Hart

Belton                Costello                          Sweeney                   Morley  

Citizenship practices              Migration customs                        

The Curry family

The Berry families seems to be the first to move to Kansas, and the Currys followed soon after.  We have no record of either the Berrys or Currys being in Kansas prior to the Civil War, but they appeared soon thereafter,  sooner than the group I originally traced leaving Ireland around the mid 1880s.  In fact, the Berrys are cited as welcoming several groups of Irish emigrants in the mid 1880s.  

Thomas E. Curry of Kansas City MO has developed an extensive chart of the Curry families, and a 35  page single spaced booklet "A Curry Family Tree"  tracking the Currys who emigrated to Kansas.  The research was conducted in 2001-2004  .

The Curry family is related to the Foys.   Honoria Foy, younger sister of Patrick Foy, married John Joseph Curry and the couple emigrated to Kansas with the Curry family around 1886.  Honoria's  oldest sister, Delia Foy, married Martin Berry, and that family also emigrated to Kansas.  John Joseph Curry's parents were Martin Curry and Mary Berry.   This essay will limit itself to the family of Martin Curry and his wife Mary Berry  and secondarily to the family of their son John Curry and Honoria Foye.

 Martin Curry, born in Knock Ireland in 1818 and Mary Berry, born in 1828 were married at Knock, Ireland and their first three children were born in Ireland.    Martin and Mary Curry migrated to Abilene KS around 1875, but I was unable to find a matching immigration record.  Both of them are buried in Abilene Kansas, Martin in 1903 and Mary in 1901.  Their children:

Anne Curry (Knock, 6 Jan 1850 - Tampa Ks 23 Feb 1934) married   James Noone (Co Clare 6 July 1845 - Tampa Ks 21 Aug 1934). The couple went to Kansas in 1884, and settled near Tampa Kansas among the "Mud Creek Irish" which included Beltons, Meehans, Morton and Noones of Clark Township.

John Joseph Curry (Knock 15 June 1854 - Kansas City KS 16 March 1929) married (Knock 7 July 1881) Honoria Foye (Garryedmond 16 Feb 1854 - Tampa KS 23 Jan 1910).  They settled in Tampa Kansas.  Children listed below.

William Curry (Knock 1855  -  1902) married Margaret Carney (Apr 1866 - 1937)  and they  lived in Vine Creek Kansas.  Previously, William is listed in the 1885 Kansas census as living with his mother and father, Mary and Martin Curry in Prairie Dog, Decatur County Kansas.  William and Margaret had two children according to the 1900 census, but only John M Curry (May 1890 - 1971) survived childhood. William was institutionalized sometime between 1890 and 1900,  for he appears in the 1900 census as an inmate of the Kansas State Asylum.  Margaret remained in Ottawa County, she owned her own home and served as the postmistress at Vine Creek and operated a grocery store..  John M continued to farm the Curry land  adjacent to the Vine Creek church and cemetery until he died in  1971.  All three are buried in the Vine Creek Catholic Cemetery.

Margaret Curry (Knock Aug 1856 - Henrietta TX bet 1920 & 1930) came to the USA in 1876. She married (Streator IL abt 1878) William Hanagan (New York Aug 1855 - Henrietta TX after 1930 ). Shortly after they married they moved to a farm near Tampa KS. The US census for 1880 lists William and Margaret and their five month old baby Mary in Marion County, Center Township.  The Patrick Berry family follows immediately afterward.  The Kansas State census for 1885 places them In Decatur County, Prairie Dog township, in the northwestern corner of Kansas.  They are listed near the George Byrne and the Martin Curry families, and close to the listings for JJ Berry and Patrick Berry.  Later on they moved to Abilene KS and by 1900 were in Clay County, Henrietta  Texas.  They had seven children, the first two of whom were born in Tampa, and only five of whom were alive by the time of the 1900 census.  Several census records indicate the couple were married in 1880.  The US 1910 census indicates they had seven children, or whom five were alive: Mary, James M, Thoms K, William F, and Agnes.  Margaret was still alive by the time of the 1920 census, but by the 1930 census William was a widower, who with is son Thomas C moved in with his son James' family.  

Bridget Curry (Kilcolman Co Mayo bap 4 Oct 1854 - Leavenworth KS 24 Oct 1934) became Sister Mary Sophie of the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth. She worked as a nurse in hospitals in Laramie WY & Leavenworth KS.   She is buried in St. Mary's cemetery.  The Motherhouse records indicate that she entered the convent 12 Feb 1884.

 Rose Curry (Kilcolman Co Mayo bap  5 June 1856  -  Topeka KS 18 July 1910) became Sister Mary Pelagia of the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth.  She is buried in St. Mary's cemetery. The Motherhouse records indicate that she entered the convent 12 Feb 1884.  No assignments noted in the Sisters' records, but she was probably a teacher.

Thomas John Curry (Knock 1856 -  Abilene KS 25 Jan 1916) came earlier than the Martin and Mary Curry family contingent.   He is listed in the New York Passenger Lists for the liner Abyssinia which docked May 1879 as a warehouseman. age 24, coming from Ireland to U.S.America.  Next he appears in the US 1880 census as a clerk in store in Abilene City, Dickinson Count, Kansas, the location of the store operated by JJ Berry and Patrick Berry. In 1885 we find him in Decatur County, Prairie Dog Township in two places.  Since this a fairly recent piece of evidence, it it printed here in its entirety:
 

  The family histories indicate that Thomas John Curry married Annie Cecelia Hart (1866 - 1926) in Abilene KS on  15 April 1885 in Abilene KS.  Annie was the daughter of Cecelia Byrne, Jane Frances Byrne Berry's older sister and Edward Hart.  She was born near Pittsburgh, PA   Cecelia died two years after Annie was born, and Edward Hart died twelve years after Annie's birth.  Annie was taken by family members to St. Louis  The 1880 Federal Census places her with the family of Patrick Byrne in Abilene KS.  Patrick was Jane Frances Byrne's younger brother, age 27; he clerked in the Berry Brothers store. As depicted above, the 1885 State Census places her with John Joseph and Jane Frances Berry family in Decatur.  Shortly after the census, Thomas John and Annie Cecelia were married.  The family next appears in the Kansas State Census for 1895:
 

It is unclear who Mary Curry, age 62 is.  If it is Thomas' mother, the ages and dates don't correspond.  Also,  where is Martin Curry, who died only in 1903?  The full T J Curry family appears in the 1900 Federal Census:
 

By 1910, Thomas John Curry is listed with none as occupation: Annie Cecelia is a seamstress at home, Joseph A is a piano salesman, and Cecelia is a school teacher.  Mae and Cecelia are gone by the time of the 1915 State census, Thomas John is an insurance agent, Joseph and Edward are clerks, Agnes and Marie are stenos, Jane is in high school, and Ralph and Helen are students.  By 1920 Annie Cecelia is the head of the household, which includes Agnes, Marie, Frances, Helen and Ralph.   Annie Cecelia died in 1926.

Jane Francis Curry has written a short biography of Annie Cecelia Hart, as seen in the eyes of her daughter.  It is located in the essay section, and gives an interesting insight to life in a  town rather than on a farm.

See below for short descriptions of the children of Thomas John and Annie Cecelia Curry

Mary Curry (abt 1868 - 1897)   who took the name Sister Mary Loretta may have been another of the Curry children, although family records do not mention her.  Bt the convent records indicate she was the daughter of Martin Curry and Mary Berry.   She died two years after entering the convent in 11 Feb 1897 at the age of 28.   

Patrick Curry is another mystery.  One record says he was born in Claremorris Co Mayo on 24 Mar 1865 and baptized 25 Mar 1865 and that he died in Claremorris 3 April 1865.  Nora Belton's notes indicate that he  "died in the service"  Other records indicate that he moved to Kansas City and was murdered.
There is a possibility that both tales are correct.  Often when a young child died in an Irish family, a succeeding child was given the same name.
          The 1880 US Census for Kansas > Dickinson County > Abilene shows a Patrick Curry, age 14, listed after Thomas Curry.  Both have occupation as "clerk in store", probably the store operated by JJ Berry and Patrick Berry.  The 1900 census for Solomon > Cloud County > Kansas shows a Patrick Curry, born January 1865, single, Irish birth, a day laborer.   By 1910 Patrick had moved to Kansas City, Missouri, was still single, a lodger in a rooming house, but a "merchant  restaurant".   I was unable to locate Patrick in the Kansas State Census records for 1885 or 1895, nor could I find Patrick's ship record for his transit to the USA, declared to be in 1878.  (I did find a transit for Thomas Curry in 1879, but it did not list Patrick near Thomas.)   To settle this question would require research in Knock, Ireland for baptisms, and also research in Kansas City or police reports and newspaper accounts.  I'll leave that to others … 
 

Children of John J Curry and Honoria Foye

John J Curry (Knock 15 June 1854 - Kansas City KS 16 March 1929) married (Knock 7 July 1881) Honoria Foye (Garryedmond 16 Feb 1854 - Tampa KS 23 Jan 1910).  They settled in Tampa Kansas.   Their children are listed here because of the close relationship with the Foy family.  The first three children were born in Ireland, and the last five children were born in Kansas.  Hanny or Anna or Nora Foy (as she was listed in the census records)  was the sister of Bridget (Delia) Foy who married Martin Berry and also the sister of Patrick Foy, my grandfather

Children of Thomas John Curry (1857 - 1916) and Annie Cecelia Hart (1866 - 1928)
 

United States Census record for 1870:  Gardner, Grundy County, Illinois
enumerated 2nd August 1870

United States Census record for 1880:  Kansas, Marion County, Gale, Dist 248
enumerated 5th June 1880

Warren Roby forwarded the following news article to me on 22 Jan 2006.   He received it from a cousin, who copied it just as he read it, typos and all  (boldface is my addition)…

November 19, 1908  Hope Dispatach

Thomas Curry Jr., of near Tampa, was killed Tuesday by falling from a building. He was repiring a corn crib when he made a mis step and fel from the building, strikeing on a corn sheller on his sstomach and brest.  He screamed once but was dead when they reached him.

He was 26 years old, married Miss MINNIE BELTON about a year ago, who with a child four weeks old, is left to mourn his untimely death.

Anna B Noone (1888 - 1985) born in the Mud Creek Irish settlement near Tampa KS, married James Costello (1886 - 1970) a farmer all his life.  His parents came from Cork Ireland.  Like many immigrant children, his father took him out of school after the third grade.  His son, Edward, relates that he was shocked to discover that his father could not read.  Anna knew how to protect him from this embarrassment, but when she was not present he would hand Edward something to read stating he didn't have his glasses.  Since Ed know he didn't wear glasses. he gradually came to realize he could not read.   Anna was a caring mother and home maker who played an active role in the operation of the farm and education of their children. excerpt from A Curry Family Tree, by  Thomas E Curry, page 3

              When I would be “lost in a book” at bedtime, Mother would go up to bed after admonishing me to do so, also. In about fifteen minutes she would call from the top of the stairs, “come up to bed this minute!”

I would reply, “Yes, Mother, just let me finish this chapter!

Fifteen minutes later- a re-run of the same scene.  I did not mean to be recalcitrant; I was really “out of this world”.

Fifteen minutes later- a re-run?  No!  Just lights out!  The fuse-box was at the head of the stairs; she pulled the switch, and I went to bed in the dark!  More than once!

 >>Jane Frances Curry<<

 About Aunt Marie, and her “clothes-Press!”  Children often concoct some strange words or expressions from what their little ears attribute to utterances of their grown-ups.  So, when Marie would hear the older ones bidding each other goodnight, saying, “Hope you rest well”, her deduction was “clothes-Press”!  And, sometimes even now, in fun, she’ll say it instead of “Good Night”.

 About Aunt Marie again – Before the streets were paved, when it rained what glorious fun it was to wade in the deep gutters!  Because of the mud, however, it was somewhat dangerous- not for the bigger kids but for the little ones.  Marie was big enough but, because I followed her into the ditch, she got spanked for leading me astray!  Mother believed in placing the blame where it belonged – usually.

Editor's note:  Aunt Marie was not Jane's Aunt but her  older sister.  These vignettes were addressed to Jane Curry's nephews and nieces.

 >>Jane Frances Curry<<

              Uncle Ed “got away with murder”, or so it seemed to me because he was forever leading me on- to my sad downfall!  Once should have sufficed but no, I always believed him — to my great sorrow and pain because, although he was at fault, I got the spanking!  He would say, “Come on and go up to Nusz’ with me- Mother said you could”. That was our nearest grocery store, just a few blocks from home.  Then, when we got up there and stopped across the threshold, he would turn and say, “No she didn’t!”  and I would fly home – to get spanked for leaving without permission!  As I say, once should have been enough but it happened time after time – I always believed him!  Evidently so did Mother – “he could do no wrong”!

They say he reminded her of her father; even as Ceil was supposed to be like her mother- and, if I wanted anything and would ask Ceil to ask Mother, I always got it! So-o-o what difference did it make?

Editor's note:  Uncle Ed was not Jane Frances' uncle but her older brother.  These vignettes were addressed to Jane Curry's nephews and nieces.  Mother — Annie Cecelia Hart — may have remembered her father, because she was twelve when he died, but she must have remembered her mother from pictures and stories, as she was only two when her mother died.

  >>Jane Frances Curry<<

  I don’t recall too much about the “older ones”- they seemed to live; in a different world!  But I do remember how, when they had “dates,” Father O’Reilly, who lived right across the street, would parade back and forth on the open upper-porch of the Rectory, dressed in his long, white nightshirt and high-peaked, white night-cap, fuming because “his girls” were entertaining non-Catholic boy-friends!  And, in the next Sunday’s sermon he did everything but name names!  (And that’s what they all married because there weren’t many Catholics.)

 But, the Rectory furnished no end of our entertainment when we were little.  Dad’s “Aunt Bridget” lived over there with Father and his sister, Jennie, so we were always running in and out over there.  Father played the accordion and Jennie played the organ, so we participated in many an Irish jig.  And, Aunt B. would sit there smoking her old corncob pipe, the picture of perfect peace.

However, things were not always peaceful around there, especially when Helen and Ralph would lock poor Jennie in the outdoor privy!

 We were probably pests but Father always knew how to get rid of us.  When he had had enough, he would say, “There comes the Bishop!” and would we fly!

Editor's note:  Aunt Bridget is Bridget Berry Cosgrove.  See Berry family chapter for details.

 >>Jane Frances Curry<<

Ann Halligan was the wife of William Foy,   Her mother was a Curry, but we don't know the connection to the families described in this section.    However, the Halligans lived in Kilcolman, close to Knock, and many of the Currys were born near Knock.

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United States Census > 1900  >  Kansas > Marion > Blaine Township > District 81
enumerated   ?  June 1900